Some Effects Related to the Potassium and Lysine Intake of Rats

The effect of feeding diets containing 0.14 and 0.72% of potassium and varying levels of lysine to rats has been studied. Partial protection against hair loss and increased liver fat were observed when the higher potassium level was fed to lysine-deficient rats, indicating an increased potassium requirement in these animals. Variations in the lysine but not the potassium content of the diets resulted in marked changes in the potassium and sodium content of skin but not of liver or muscle. The results of amino acid analyses and histologic studies of tissues from these animals have also been reported.